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Solar Power

What we know about solar in Montana

Montana has an abundant solar resource that can be used to save energy in residential and commercial construction, and farming, ranching, recreation and other industries.

How Solar Energy Benefits Montana

Solar energy can play a key role in creating a clean, reliable energy future in Montana. The benefits are many and varied. Consumers who use these technologies will benefit directly and immediately. Using solar energy produces immediate environmental benefits. Electricity is often produced by burning fossil fuels such as oil, coal, and natural gas. The combustion of these fuels releases a variety of pollutants into the atmosphere, such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and nitrogen oxide (NO_x), which create acid rain and smog. Carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels is a significant component of greenhouse gas emissions. These emissions could significantly alter the world's environment and lead to the global warming predicted by most atmospheric scientists.

The combustion of fossil fuels releases more than 6 billion tons of carbon into the atmosphere each year. The United States alone is responsible for 23 percent of these emissions. Clean energy sources, such as solar energy, can help meet rising energy demands while reducing pollution and preventing damage to the environment and public health at the same time.

Solar energy is an excellent alternative to fossil fuels for many reasons:

It is clean energy. Even when the emissions related to solar cell manufacturing are counted, photovoltaic generation produces less than 15 percent of the carbon dioxide from a conventional coal-fired power plant. Using solar energy to replace the use of traditional fossil fuel energy sources can prevent the release of pollutants into the atmosphere.
Using solar energy to supply a million homes with energy would reduce CO2 emissions by 4.3 million tons per year, the equivalent of removing 850,000 cars from the road.
Solar energy uses fewer natural resources than conventional energy sources. Using energy from sunlight can replace the use of stored energy in natural resources such as petroleum, natural gas, and coal. Energy industry researchers estimate that the amount of land required for photovoltaic (PV) cells to produce enough electricity to meet all U.S. power needs is less than 60,000 square kilometers, or roughly 20 percent of the area of Arizona.
Solar energy is a renewable resource. Some scientists and industry experts estimate that renewable energy sources, such as solar, can supply up to half of the world's energy demand in the next 50 years, even as energy needs continue to grow.

Montana's solar resource

Montana's abundant solar resource can be used to save energy in residential and commercial construction, and farming, ranching, recreation and other industries. The amount of sunshine available at a given location is called the "solar resource" or insolation. The amount of electrical energy produced by a PV array depends on the insolation at a given location and the collector bank orientation, tilt angle, and module efficiency.

Annual Energy Produced (kwh)
Solar energy technologies work well in the Northwest. The graph shows that many Northwest cities, including Helena, rank above Jacksonville, Florida, and are nearly as good as Phoenix. Longer summer days and cooler temperatures add up to higher performance.

Montana can be divided for insolation roughly the way it is divided geographically – Eastern Montana and Western Montana. Eastern Montana receives an annual average of 5 hours of full sun; Western Montana receives an annual average of 4.2 hours.

Browse these pages for information about solar basics. Solar dealers and installers are usually the best source of how-to information for people contemplating a solar project for a home or business. A Montana directory of dealers/installers is available on line.

Links

Montana Solar House – A Guide to Adding Solar to Your Home
Solar electric power generated using "photovoltaics," or "PVs," is used in hundreds of applications throughout Montana. Applications vary from road-side signs to high mountain communications towers and from hand-held calculators to stock-water pumping systems. This publication focuses on the use of solar electricity in homes and small businesses. It provides basic information about system components and what to expect when shopping for a solar electric system. Chapter 2 discusses solar water-heating and solar air-heating systems.

Montana Solar House – An Introduction to New Home Solar Design
Similar to the publication above, this one focuses on incorporating solar features into new home design. Includes chapters on photovoltaics, solar water heating, and building-integrated solar design.

How to Build a Better Home in Montana With Solar Energy and Energy Efficiency
Learn more about incorporating solar and energy efficiency features into new home construction with this homeowner brochure developed by NCAT.

Montana Guide to Building ENERGY STAR Solar Homes
Developed by NCAT, this brochure helps builders and designers incorporate energy efficiency and solar energy features into new home construction. It discusses ENERGY STAR Homes Northwest, grid-connected photovoltaics, passive solar and solar tempering, solar water heating, and "solar ready" design features.

Renewable Energy Opportunities on the Farm
Renewable energy represents an important option for agricultural producers. This publication from the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service/ATTRA introduces three renewable energy resources that can be attractive and economically feasible for the farm: solar, wind, and renewable fuels. This is not a technical guide for designing or installing renewable energy systems but, instead, an overview that provides information on wind, solar, and renewable fuel technologies, cost and savings, site planning, and financial incentives. A list of resources follows the narrative.

Independent Solar Electric Homes
Utility independent, or "remote," solar electric systems provide electricity for building that are not connected to an electric utility. Photovoltaics (PV) have been used to power remote homes in Montana for more than 20 years. Applications vary from simple systems that charge a trailer battery, to complete home power systems that run everything from power tools to microwave ovens. Independent Solar Electric Homes covers the basics of what you need to get started.

Consumer's Guide to Renewable Energy in Arkansas
While intended for Arkansas residents and businesses, much of the information presented in this publication also applies to residents in other states. Includes useful information on solar, wind, and renewable fuels.

Clean Power Estimator
The Clean Power Estimator calculates the amount you can save on your energy bills by installing a solar power system. It also estimates the amount of pollution you can prevent by using solar energy. Enter your zip code (or leave it blank if you do not know the zip code for your location), select your customer type, and press enter to estimate the cost of solar.